Tailstock for grinding machines



June 12, 1951 A. M. DRAKE TAILSTOCK FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed May 15, 1948 INVENTOR. AldnM flrake AZ FORNEY Patented June 12, 1951 TAILSTOCK FOR GRINDIN G MACHINES Alden M. Drake, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Niles-Bement-Pond Company, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 15, 1948, Serial No. 27,267

3 Claims. (01. 82-31) This invention relates to grinding machines and particularly to an improved tailstock construction therefor adapted for supporting one end of a work piece on a center for rotation on a fixed axis.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laterally adjustable work supporting tailstock, the lateral adjustment of which can be varied to an extreme precision.

Another object of importance of the invention is to provide a tailstock spindle that may be held inits work engaging position by any one of a series of resilient members having different resiliencies, the pressures of each of which also may be widely varied.

A feature that enables the above objects to be accomplished is that there is provided on the tailstock a turret rotatable upon an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the spindle and housing a plurality of springs or other resilient members any one of which, by rotation of the turret, may be positioned for engagement against the rear end of the spindle in position to force the spindle toward work engaging position.

Another feature of importance is that the pressure exerted by each of these resilient members may be individually adjusted so that a wide selection of pressures may be available by selective engagement of the springs against the end of the tialstock spindle.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a tailstock adapted primarily for a screw thread grinding machine in which the work is mounted for rotation upon centers in alignment with each other, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limitin the scope of the invention, the claims appended to stock taken on the plane of line 33 in Figure 1 and Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the plane of line 44 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the above-mentioned drawing there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: first, a base member adapted for engagement with the ways of a grinding machine bed or table; second, a body member laterally adjustable on said base and having transversely extending ways for engagement with said base; third, adjusting means for varying the lateral position of the body member relative to the base; fourth, a center supporting spindleslidably mounted within said body member; fifth, a turret rotatably mounted at one end of said body member for rotation on an axisparallel to the direction of movement of the spindle; sixth, spring-pressed plungers mounted within the turret and selectively and individually engaging against the end face of the tailstock spindle; seventh, means to adjust the pressures of said plungers, and eighth, means to manually move the spindle in either direction.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing, it will be seen that there is a base I 0 adapted for engagement with the guideways of a table or bed l2 of a grinding machine or other form of machine tool and provided with a short vertically extending stud I4. Mounted in transversely extending ways in said base Ill, is a body member [6 within which is mounted the tailstock spindle It.

To laterally adjust the position of the body member l6 relative to the base In on the transversely extending ways 20, a threaded member 22 is mounted in an inserted member or sleeve 24 in the body member l6. As shown in Figure 4, the threaded member 22 extends horizontally and its inner threaded end engages internal screw threads formed within the stud 14 mounted vertically within the base H]. To provide fine adjustment for the lateral movements of the body member [6, a second or intermediate threaded portion may be provided of the opposite helix and slightly different lead from the threads at the inner end of member 22. This threaded section engages internal screw threads formed within the sleeve 24 fitting within and rotatable in a recess formed in the body member I6. A spring detent 26 retains the sleeve 24 normally against rotation but permits manual rotation of the sleeve by means of the knurled flange 28 on its outer end. By rotation of the sleeve 24, the body member will be moved laterally in accordance with the lead of screw threads on the intermediate portion of the threaded member. Byr-rotatiomof the-. threaded member '22 by the knob 30 on its outer end, the lateral movement of the body member l6 will be extremely slow as it will be determined by the difierence in lead of the twov-threaded sections on the threaded member 22.

To retain the body memberiis imadjusted -lateral position on the base and to clamp-the base I0 and body member IE to the machine ways [2, a bolt 32 having a head at itsLiowergend entering a T slot in the ways I2 may be tightened by rotation of a hand lever 34 threaded to the upper end of the bolt.

As shownin the'-figures,'ithe: tailstock spindle 18 extends longitudinally and horizontally within the'tbody'member 16- and held in place by a cap member 33 secured to the rear face of the body member.

In order to move the-tailstockspindle l 8 within thebody 'member- I 6 in either direction, a plu- -rality of rack teeth 35=are formed in a surface thereon; these-teeth-engagegear teeth 36 on an intermediate -portionof= avertically mountedshaft 38 within the body member I6. As shown "in'detailin Figure"'3,---this shaft 38 ismounted upon anti-friction bearings: and may be operated bya handle or leveri39 securedto the upper-end or the shaft.

In order to resiliently force the tailstock spindle 18 in a direction to engageagainst' the :end' 'face of the.- work --piece,--:With predetermined =l-8 and-houses a plurality of' longitudinally extending-springs 44. 'Iomanuallyrotatethe turret 40: about its axis it is :only necessary -to: grasp the outer. knurledportiomflfi of Ithe turret. The

opposite-ends of eachrspringM extend:.-within hollow plungers 4E. The :forward ends: ofthe springs 44 within its plunger except one are in engagement-with the end face of the-bodymember l6 only and-are therefore inactive. One spring asshown-in FigureQ, bears against "the spindle |8=and by rotating" the turret 40 any selected one of the-difierent-springs=44 may be brought into this spindle engaging position. In

the forward position of the spindle l8 the plunger 16' for the active spring 44' also bears partially againstthe end face of the body member 16 and limits the forwardmovement of the spindle. As

each springfid is-of diiferent resiliency or pressure, by selecting the proper: rotative position of the turret" 40* the spindle l 8- may' be forced to- -d8wfor any spring 44, the-.-compr,ession of the individual springs may be widely varied.

'Io normally but lightly force the body member 16 in one direction relative to the base 0, one ormorezlight-spring pressed plungers 50 may be mounted within the base with its outer end bearing against aidepending portion of the body member. 16.

I claim:

-l..Aatai1stock:for grinding machines comprisingkabody member, a spindle slidably mounted therein, manual means to move said spindle longitudinally within said tailstock, a turret rotatably mounted on said tailstock 'onan -axis -parallel to the direction of movement of-s'aid spindle,1and--:a

plurality ofsprings mounted within-said turret for"selective-engagement against: an end face/of said spindle, whereby the pressure exerted against said spindle may be 'varied by positioning a selected spring against said spindle.

2. A tailstock for grinding machines comprising, a body member, a spindle 'slidablymount- ,edptherein, manual means to move-saidspindle longitudinally within said tailstock; a turret: rotatably-mounted on said tailsto'ck on an axiszparallel to the direction'of movementof said spindle, and aplurality of helical springs mounted within said turret for selective engagementragainst'said spindle and extending in-the direction of move- ;mentof said spindle, whereby the pressure exerted against-said-spindle in one direction-may=be varied by positioning-a' seleoted' spring: against said spindle.

'3. A tailstock for grinding machines: comprising, a-body member, a spindle slidably mounted therein, =manual means .to -move said spindle "longitudinally withinsaid .tailstock, .a turretrotatably mounted onsaid tailstockonan-axis-parallel to the dire'ction of' movement ofrs'aid'spindle,

a-plurality-of springs mounted withinvsaid tur- -ret-for selective engagement against said spindle, whereby the pressure exerted against .saidspindle may be varied by positioning aeselected'zsprin 'against said spindle, and individual gadju's'ting -means for varying the force zexertedqby-ssaid springs.

ALDEN M; DRAKE.

REFERENCES. .GITyED The following references are of record-'inthe 'file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,239,352 Chard Sept. 4, 1917 1 501,076 Townsend .-'J'uly 15;;1924 1,591,026 Durkee July 6, 1,926 1,602,680 Knowles .Qct. 12,:1926 

